Uma Asks Why Garuda Left Assemblies of Sages to Learn from a Crow
Uttara Kanda, Chaupai 53
Doha 55 · Movement 1 of 2
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Uma's wonder widens. How did Bhushundi receive this sacred story? How did Shiva himself hear it? Garuda is greatly wise, a treasury of qualities, Hari's servant, and one who dwells close to the Lord.
Why did the king of birds leave assemblies of sages and go to a crow for Rama-katha? How did dialogue arise between these two devotees, the crow and the devourer of serpents?
Shiva receives Gauri's simple questions with delight. He calls her understanding pure and her love for Raghupati's feet profound. Listen, he says, to a supremely sacred history whose hearing destroys the delusion of all worlds. Faith in Rama's feet will arise, and a person will cross the ocean of becoming without effort. The apparent mismatch between teacher and student becomes the threshold of a liberating tale.
Garuda leaves the learned assembly for a crow because devotion recognizes a throne of wisdom where status sees only a branch.
Read the passage from the Manas
यह प्रभु चरित पवित्र सुहावा। कहहु कृपाल काग कहँ पावा।। तुम्ह केहि भाँति सुना मदनारी। कहहु मोहि अति कौतुक भारी।। गरुड़ महाग्यानी गुन रासी। हरि सेवक अति निकट निवासी।। तेहिं केहि हेतु काग सन जाई। सुनी कथा मुनि निकर बिहाई।। कहहु कवन बिधि भा संबादा। दोउ हरिभगत काग उरगादा।। गौरि गिरा सुनि सरल सुहाई। बोले सिव सादर सुख पाई।। धन्य सती पावन मति तोरी। रघुपति चरन प्रीति नहिं थोरी।। सुनहु परम पुनीत इतिहासा। जो सुनि सकल लोक भ्रम नासा।। उपजइ राम चरन बिस्वासा। भव निधि तर नर बिनहिं प्रयासा।।
This sacred and beautiful story of the Lord. Tell me, O gracious one, how did the crow come to possess it? In what manner did you hear it, O conqueror of Kama? Tell me, for great curiosity has taken hold of me. Garuda is supremely wise, a treasury of virtues, a devoted servant dwelling very close to Hari. For what reason did he go to a crow, leaving behind assemblies of sages, to hear this katha? Tell me how this dialogue came about between these two devotees of Hari: the crow and the king of birds. Hearing Gauri's simple, beautiful question, Shiva spoke with reverence, feeling deep joy: 'Blessed are you, O Sati! Pure is your understanding. Your love for Raghupati's feet is no small thing.' 'Listen to this supremely sacred history. Hearing it destroys the delusion of all the worlds.' Faith in Rama's feet arises, and without effort one crosses the ocean of worldly existence.